Amid a semester and a Homecoming week unlike any other, laughter indeed proved to be the best medicine for hundreds of University of Wisconsin Oshkosh students who hopped online to play Bingo Wednesday night with the Manitowoc Minute guy.

“It was fun to see students so engaged and having fun in their interactions with Charlie Berens. Reeve Union Board has worked hard to make Homecoming as ‘normal’ and fun as possible. It felt good to see those efforts pay off!” said Missy Burgess, Reeve Union’s associate director for student involvement.

Clad in red flannel, Berens called out Bingo numbers while fielding dozens of rapid-fire comments and questions posted by students in the chat box.

Topics ranged from Beren’s favorite Culver’s order (ButterBurger, unless it is Lent, then walleye) to the best soda brand (Jolly Good) to bow hunting skills (he’s a vegan hunter because he has never been successful).

He also joked about adding rhubarb and garden tomatoes to the Bingo prizes up for grabs during the game. Winners were treated to a virtual meet-and-greet with Berens after the event.

Berens urged students to “not be lazy” and get out and vote in the upcoming Nov. 3 presidential election or risk having to clean the basement, garage, or attic as punishment for not fulfilling their “Constitutional duty.”

Berens also offered up relationship advice as students shared stories of people breaking up in iconic Wisconsin businesses.

“Some people have no compassion. You should only break up at a BP not a Kwik Trip. And breaking up at Fleet Farm is like breaking up in church. Just take ’em to a Bears game to break up,” he advised.

Alrighty, folks. Keep ‘er movin.’

There’s more Homecoming events scheduled through Saturday.